I have gotten fed up with my News page, which I didn't often get round to revising anyway, and decided that it might be good fun to have a Blog where I can rant about the equestrian world in the North of Scotland (and various other things!). Please feel free to email in with your comments and as long as they are not malicious or slanderous then I will happily put them up on this page.

Saturday, 14th March

I have settled back to work again after a week's skiing (and a busy week at that).

The weather wasn't brilliant- a lot of cloud and snowing for several days, but huge amounts of snow - skiing on the last day in thigh-deep powder - just like off-piste when on-piste! Must get some comfortable skiboots sorted out though. Does anyone have any ideas where is the best place to get them fitted?

Aryan went off to a new home yesterday and we have a new young Arab arrived to take his place, called Eric, well he has got a fancy name and his dad was a show champion, but Eric is good enough for now.

Aryan who is off to a new life in Kirriemuir. I hope to see him out and  about competing in endurance with the Tayside branch or even further  afield. He came back from Ireland last year with the victorious Scottish Home International team so that has to be a good omen.

I had hoped to go down with Louis to an endurance team training weekend but Louis had other ideas and put a limp on his left foot (even though there was nothing to be seen) and has had a few days off but seems fine now - horses!

So - I was turning my attentions to a bit of dressage with the intention of taking Hero to a competition next weekend  but those plans may also be scuppered as some folk are coming to view Hero tomorrow! Well - I suppose I can always take one of the coloureds - it would do them good.

Weather has been very blustery today even though there hasn't been much rain around - not like last week when there hardly seemed to be a break in the showers. Yesterday was lovely though, dry, not windy and even sunny in bits. Even saw my first primroses and frogspawn which seems to have survived a foot of snow on top of it.

Sunday 15th March

Fair Haired Lad's Pass. I took a walk up the Fair Haired Lad's Pass ,which is on the Trail of the Seven Lochs, today and was delighted to see that all the path works have been completed to a similar standard to the rest of the Pass, so it is now definitely one of the most stunning riding and walking routes in the South Loch Ness Area. It is still a little damp but will dry out to be excellent in a few weeks. If anyone wants to ride over it you can park your vehicles here for a donation to the Access Group and hack over form our place.

Not only did the folk who came to see Hero today fall in love with him and decide to take him away, but they have also bought Titch for a neighbour so we are going to be well down on horse numbers. It is sad to see such members of our family moving on but I guess there is always another horse that needs our work. I will just have to find another horse to take to the dressage at the weekend - look out Louis (who has given up limping now!).

Hello there!

Just been reading your blog - nice to hear what you are up to! Those cobs are gorgeous Candy! I am so jealous! However not long for me now!!

I have only 8 weeks of Uni left then I shall be a teacher - Hooray!

about time too! It is still very hectic and when I am not in college/school I have essays and housework coming out of my ears! But I think I have a fortnight break at the end of May, so should be in touch with you then to get out riding.  Not much else of interest here, my cousin seems to have lost interest in her horse (the grey I took out to the ride at yours) which is such a shame as he is a lovely boy, but I am staying clear of ending up with a "loan" of him! No time for mucking out just now!

anyway I look forward to your next blog update!

Speak soon

Teresa

Hi Candy

Looking forward to more of your Blog

John

Thursday 19th March

A bit of a sad day here today as Titch, Hero and Bart all left to start their new lives down in Aberdeenshire, where we wish their owners the best of success with them. I always feel with the young horses that what we do here is to give them a good education and what they do with that will decide what sort of life they have in the future - a bit like our own kids!

It was the most fabulous sunshiney day today - I hope this is not the only summer days we are going to have this year! Delighted to see that my melon seeds have germinated and yesterday I saw the wagtails and starlings back and clocked the curlews looking as if they were starting to nest on the hill - so all is well with the world, or so it would have me believe.

I attended a presentation at the Sports Centre the other night on Strength and Conditioning given by John Coogan who works with the Scottish Institute of Sport and took part in the East to West crossing of Greenland following the route of Nansen. He also devised the training programme for the team. What was most interesting was that, although there must be more equestrian coaches in the Highland Area than coaches of almost any other sport, I was the only one from our discipline. This seems crazy when the one thing that lets down most riders is the lack of core stability and you would think it would the most important thing for equestrian coaches to get a handle on. The best way of training the core is with weight training. If anyone out there is interested in this then I am sure we could set up a workshop. I have lost count of the number of times I have to stop pushing my riders as they lose the ability to keep their position and are flopping all over the horse. I usually advise pilates, but I have learnt that weights (correctly used) will achieve the goal quicker.

Funnily enough it is also this core stability that we are trying to school into our horses. If they can work in a balanced way over their core then, from that position, they can learn to extend and jump, etc. We really should look at the help and information that other sports have to offer and take it on board rather that think of ourselves and our sport in isolation.

End of rant for just now!!!!

Hi Candy & Iain

I just thought I would drop you a line to let you know how Tom has been getting on in Kent. He has settled in well in the small livery yard at Groombridge and has an army of admirers. You were in my thoughts at the start of February with all that snow, I am sure your horse walker was worth its weight in gold. Tom was very full of beans during the 3 weeks of a mixture of snow, heavy fog and frozen ground that played havoc with our riding schedule!  He has been on 2 training rides and we are off to our first CR (33 km) this Sunday. He was graded as Open with the EGB, having completed his Bronze Thistle final with you, and I have upgraded too so we are aiming to get to Advanced this year, I'd better go and do some weight-lifting ;)

The Strada saddle I bought from you is soooo comfortable and I have now purchased the numnah & girth from Ilga too and Tom looks quite the part now

Are you running any Endurance clinic courses this year? I would be very interested in joining in with a group, if that is possible.?

I am envious to hear of your various seeds sprouting as our greenhouse is still in a pile in the garden and I must get planting soon.

Below is a picture of the horses (and riders) at our yard going out for a Tinsel ride on Xmas Eve, much to the delight of the children in the village who spotted us.

best wishes

Mandy, Ian & Tom

         Tom is the bay gelding, third from the left.

Saturday, 21st March

I took Spot out to the Caledonian Riding Club Dressage day at the Black Isle showground. He was an absolute dude. hE Travelled well and behaved impeccably, both tied at the trailer and ridden. It was quite windy and there was a digger working close to the first arena I went in so I managed to lose a few words from the caller of my dressage tests (thank you to Heather for being brave enough to offer to call for me!) and got into a bit of a fankle in the middle of the intro test but Spot still managed to come 2nd to Heather and Blinkie and get himself another rosette for having over 60%. Unfortunately, in the Prelim 10 test, we briefly exited the arena in the left canter and missed two of the movements, so did not do so well there. Right canter was much better though. But hey! There's not much point in going to a competition if you come back with nothing to work on!

Off to a 30 km endurance ride tomorrow at Contin, so hope the weather stays reasonably fine. Taking Mon Talisman for his first ride with SERC.

All the daffodils well out in the village now after this week's good weather and great clumps of beautiful primroses appearing in the woods. Can't believe how many sika deer I am seeing around at the moment though. Yesterday we had to wait for 24 to cross the road before proceeding with the horses! It's also 6.30 p.m. now and still quite light. What a difference to a month ago. Summer just around the corner hopefully.

Hi Candy

Just a quick note to let you know Tom finished his 33km CR yesterday with a Grade 1, 38 HR in 13.66kph.

best wishes, Mandy